Trump-Putin repair complicates EU sanctions policy

A telephone call between Presidents Trump and Putin on Saturday afternoon was regarded as the first attempt of a repair the relations between two countries which have been dramatically degrading through Obama’s presidency, and touched its lowest point when 35 Russian diplomats were expelled in January this year, allowing many observers to compare the state of affairs with the Cold War times. Russian officials characterised president Obama’s legacy as the ‘mine field’. The telephone call have been awaited for many, touched by sanctions against Russia, hoping for normalisation of relations in pragmatic approach promised by new US administration.

The EU position on continuation of sanctions policy against Russi, confirmed by the UK Prime Minister Theresa May during her visit to Washington, will become complicated, if not useless, in case President Trump will abandon this approach.